Mechanism for separation of conductors from non-conductors.



N0. 668,792. Patented Feb. 26, l90l. L. l. BLAKE 81. L. N. MURSCHER. MECHANISM FOR SEPARATION OF GONDUGTORS FROM NOM-GONDUCTORS.

(Application filed Aug. 7, 1900.)

Int/anions Wiinesses:

. l'o all whom it may concern.-

moms mam,

' N. 'MORSCHER,o f

the following'is a specification, inghad to the drawings accompanying and forming part of the same.

STATES.

lIlECHANlSM1F0R SEPARATION of to PATENT,

bFJflAWREN QE, AND LAWRENCE N. nonsense, or

NEODFLSHA, KANSAS.

NDUCTORS FROM. uou-corpucron's;

SPEGIEIGATION forming part of Letterlfateiit No. 668.792, dated February 26, 1901.

' drigine-l application filed ram 1a. 1899, Serial n5. 709,238.

Divided and this application filed August 7, l90l). Serial I l o.

26,152. (No inodcll) Be it known that we, LUCIEN I. BLAKE, of

Lawrence,county of Douglas, and LAWRENCE Neodesha,coi1uty of Wilson,

State of Kansas, citizens orche United States, haveflinvented a certain new and useful Improvement irr-Mechanism for Separation of Conductors from Non-Conductors, of which reference be- The improvement relates generally to the art of separating particles of grains 'having. varyiu g or difierent electrical conductivitythat is, the separation of conductors (or those .known as relatively good conductors) from non-conductors, (orthose having relatively poor electric cond uctivity,) and relates more specifically to the construction of apparatus by which such separation can be effected, the

; process by which such, separation is made having been described .and claimed by us in a-se'parate application for Letters Patent pe'ndingsimultaneously herewith and serially numbered 709,238,.filed March 16, 1899, and of /which the present application was originally part.

, The apparatus herein, described and illustrated is more particularly'designed for the separation or particles of precious or other metals and their com pou'nd'efrom sand, silica, slate, and other-similar material occurring with metals 'in' the state of nature and also for the recovery of metals or their com pounds from waste mixtures-such, for example, as

" result in various processes of ore reduction;

that the apparatus herein but: it is ev idenbtg applied to the separation described may of various other conductors from non-con (luctors. I

The principle of the in vention is based upon I the facts, (which we'have fully and practically proved,) first, that when-a mass or mixture of conducting aud-nori-conducting particles or grains is brought into an electrostatic field or is rha'rged directly the conductors acquire their inductive or direct charges inr'itantly,v

- while-the non-comiuctors require an appreciable time to become charged;

second, that conductors of one potential when brought ferent or opposite potential instantly acquire the same potential as the conducting-surface an'dare repelled therefrom, while the nonconductors require an appreciable time of contact with such surface before acquiring into contact with conducting-surfaces of difthe same potential as said surface and being repelled. -It is evident that the greater the difference in potential between the mixed which has a charge of different potential, the conducting particles will instantly acquire the same potential as the. repellingplate and be repelled,whereas the non-conducting particles will require an appreciable time of contact before acquiring the same po-, tential as that of the' plate. In commercial practice, however, it will'be found desirable, we think, to charge the mass with electricity of one potential and then recharge iton the repelling-plate with opposite potential. As the separation of the conductors from the non-conductors is due to the difference of time required for said particles, respectively, to acqu'i'rethe samepotential as the repelling-surface, it is evident that this difference in time will be proportionately increased by first imparting to the mixed mass-acharge which must be given 'up to the repelling-plate up a new charge from the repelling-surface. Thus the particles must firstlose their initial charge and then take on anew and different charge. The conducting particles lose their original charge and take -on the new one immediately; but this double process proceeds that a very appreciable time lapses before they take up-a'newIchai-ge, duriugwhich mass-and th'e conducting-surface the morebefore the particles of the mass begin to takehebrought into contact with'a repelling-plate so slowly with the non-conducting particles period of time they have passed off the repelling-plate into their separate receptacle, as hereinafter more particularly described.

The apparatus by means of which our in- 5 vention is putin practice consists, in general terms, of a repelling-surface which is electrically charged with a different potential from that of the mass, which by suitable means is conveyed into contact with such repolling-surface. Preferably the plate or other means of conveying the mass to the repelling-surface is so arranged with reference to a source of electricity that. the particles of saidmass become electrically charged theren; from before the mass passes onto the repel ling-surface. This electric charge may be imparted to the mass by induction, in which case an electrically-charged plate is brought near the mass as it passes over the conveyingsurface, or may bedirectlycharged, in which case the source of electricity is connected with the conveying-surface over which the mass passes, the mass obtaining its charge by direct contact with the conveying-surface. In connect-ion with the conveying-surface is the repelling-surfs 0. This is preferably, though not necessarily, arranged under the end of the conveying-s11 rface, so that the mass passing from the conveying-surface falls by the action of gravity upon the repelling-surface, which is preferably inclined, so as to be '-but slightly out of the vertical. This repelling-surface is charged either by induction or by direct charge'with an electric charge of 5 difierent and preferably opposite potential to the charge of the mass as it passes from the conveying-surface. The repelling-surface .may be charged by induction by vplacing opposite it an electrically-charged plate of op- 0 .posite potential to that desired to be obtained in the repelling-surface, or it may be directly charged by connecting it with a source of electric energy of the desired potential.

The action of our apparatus is as follows: The mass of mixed conductors and non-com ductors passing through theelectrostatic field of the earth have a charge of a certain potential, though neither plus nor minus in kind, or, passing over the conveying-surface and being subjected to the influence of a source of electricity, as described, receives a charge of electricity of one potential and either plus or minus, as the case may be. Passing from the end of the conveying-surface the mass is brought in contact by gravity or any other suitable means with the repelling-surface.

As that surface is charged with electricity of 'a difierent or preferably opposite potential to the charge sustained by the mass, the mass seeks te'acquire the same potential as that of the repelling-surface. If the mass is already charged with an opposite potential to that of the repelling-surface, it first has to give up the charge which it already has. The conducting particles immediately give up their charge and immediately take on the new charge of the repelling-plate and are at once repelled from the said surface. The nonconducting particles, however, give up their first charge very slowly, meanwhile clinging to the surface of the repelling-plate by reason oflthe fact that they are charged oppositely to the repelling-surface. While clinging to this surface the non-conducting particles travel down and along towardits lower end. After the non-conducting partidles have given uptheir initial charge they commence very slowly to take on the charge of the repellingplate. Before they have received suflicient charge ofthe same potential as that of the repelling-surface to cause their repulsion they have passed off at-the lower end of the plate and have fallen into a receptacle provided for them. The .couducting particles which were immediately repelled from the place have also been received in a separate recep;

tacle. If the mass is not originally charged with a potential opposite in kindto that of the repelling-surface the' same action as above described takes place,except that the mass does not have to .give up one kind of 4 charge before commencing to take on the other. The difference in time between the. acquisition of the ,new potential by the condoctors and nonconductors, respectively, will therefore be shorter than if the mass were charged with an opposite potential before coming into contact with the repellingplate.

Itis apparent that various modifications'of the apparatus above described may be suggested, all of which, however, will contain the essential features of our invention.

We here illustrate and describe two modifications which fully set forththe general feature of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view in section of one form of apparatus made in accordance with our invention. modification of our invention.

Referring to Fig. l, A is auinclined conveying-surface of any suitable material and shape, upon'which the mass of finely-ground and mixed conductors and non-conductors is fed from a hopper J. The conveying-surface A is here directly connected with a source of.

electricity of one potential-as, for example, with a source of electricity bearing the minus sign. The mass passes over, the conveyingsurface A, becoming charged with electricity of the minus sign.- B is a wheel of any suitable material and size, so arranged that the mass passing from the conveying-surface-A Fig. 2 represents in section another IXO shall be brought by gravity or other means against the peripheryof the wheel. This wheel is connected with asource of electricity of sign opposite to that of the conveying-surface A, and therefore opposite to that with which the mass is charged as it'passes from the conveying-surface. As the charged mass falls upon the periphery of the wheel 8 the' conductors immediately lose their minuscharge, take, up a plus charge, and are repelled from the periphery-of'the wheel in the manner above described and as shown in the drawings. The non-conductors, however,

cling to the periphery of the wheel and'are carried around by its revolution, either fall "ing 01f when reaching the lower part of the wheel or'being scraped off by a scraper H of any suitable form. The non-conducting particles-thus -fallingfrom the wheel B pass through a trough E into a suitable receptacle., The conducting particles which are repelled from the periphery of the wheel B fall upon an incline F and pass intoa suitable receptacle G. To assist in the separation of the conducting from thenon-conducting particles as the former are repelled from. the pe riphery of the wheel B,-we find it of advantage, although not necessary, to usea series of shutters or inclined platforms 0, arranged opposite to the portion of the wheel B, where the conducting particles are repelled. These shutters are connected with a source of electricity of the same -sign as the conveyingplate A. When the conducting particles become charged with electricity of the same sign as the wheel B, these particles are not only repelled by the plate-wheel B, but are also attracted by the shutters O. This attraction assists materially in the separation of the condnctin g particles from the non-conducting particles Whichcling to the periphery of, the wheel B. The shutters O are open at both sides, so that the conducting particles can pass into the shutters and fall upon the plate F, and so into the receptacle-G. We also find it desirable, although not necessary, to use a plate'D, arranged near and above the lower end of-theconveying-surface A. This plate is connected with a source of electricity of similar sign to the wheel. B and is given a charge of suflicient strength to attract the particles as they pass'down the plate A and to lift them part of the distance between the plate A and the plate. D. The charge should not be strong enough,-however, to cause-the particles to be lifted into contact with the.

The particles of' the mixed mass down the conveying-surface *A are lifted by the plate D and deposited upon the plate D. passing periphery of' the wheel B in a much more scattered condition than if they fell directly from the end of the incline A upon -'the periphery ot' the wheel, thus insuring a quicker and more intimate contactof the conducting particles against the periphery of the wheel B than would otherwise be obtained. The attraction of the plate -D also assists materially in the rapidity of the feed offthe mixed mass onto the wheel B.

Referring now to ing-surface,(herein shown as an endless belt,) P a suitable hopper L. 'I he conveying-snrface in this instance is grounded'andisneutraL Over the lower end ofthe-conveyin'g-su rface is placed" a plate M, which is charged with electricity of; one potential-4s, for example, of the-plus, sign; The spacebetween this plate and the conveying'snrface is such as to the plate the hon cebductiri'g part 2 K is the convey on which the mixed m'ass is' deposited from insure that the mixture being charged by the plate will not be liftedfrom the belt by electrical attraction. As the mass passes over the conveying-surface K it receives by induc- 1 tion from the plate M an electrical charge of a sign oppositeto that of Passing from the conveying-surface K the mass is brought into contact with the inclined repelling-plate N, which plate sustains an electrical charge of opposite potential to that sustained by the mass coming in contact with it. This charge may be given either by directly connecting theplate N with a source of electricity of the desired sign or by placing opposite said-plate a plate 0, which sustains an electrical charge of sign opposite to that desired to be imparted to the plate N, theneby inducing in the plate N a charge of sign opposite to that of O. .P is another plat-e arrangedbe' low the plate N and sustaining anelectrical' charge ofsign the same as that of N. Q isa partition to maintain the separation of the two streams of conducting and non-conducting material. R and S are receptacles to reg. ceive said particles when separated. The mixed; mass passing under the plate M receives by induction 3. chargcopposite in sign to that of the plate M. When thecombined mass comes in contact with 'the plate N the conducting particles give up their charge 'and receive anothercharge of the same sign as the plate N and 'arethereupon repelled from the surface of said plate; If the plateO is used, it will attract thecondncting particles as they are repelled from the plate N, and 1 thns'assist in separating them from the nonconducting particles. The latter give up their chargeof electricity very slowly upon the surface of the-"plate N and take t p a new charge withlequa-l slowness Before they have received'sufiicient chargeto cause them to be jiepellbdjrorhfliihe plateN th'ey have passed alongthe surface andolffroln its lower end. 1 The plate'xPsex-yesgztdrtheigto guide trues-- they leave thc' plate-N and maihtainith'efm inastream,

The partition-Qis so arra'uged 'that the nonconducting parti c1es will fall -i side of the same-andthe -.c.ondii'ct1 f' particles outs ide.

As heretofore-ck plai n ed,'it.'is=nqt necessarythat the conveyi'n gent-faces in' any-ofthe mod-ifloat-ions off; our invention sliouldbe so; con nected or arranged in relation to the source of} electricity that the mass surface' shouhtreceive a charge of definite sign, the electrostatic field of the earth an;

. swering to give to the mass an initial pote ntial different from that of the charge-re'pel-ii ling plate. Nevertheless, in commercial .prac-' tice it is desirable to use two fields of oppo-Z; si-tepotential in the manner sug ested in the} modifications hereinbefore described,

Itis evident that the conveying-surfaces may'be'of any suitable material and shape,

'that the conveyin'gand repelling surfaces passing over said may be 'difierently arranged, .and' that the means for subjecting the mass to the elec- 'trostatic charges charge as the repelling-surface and are repelled therefrom, while the non-conductors take so long to become electrified by the repelling-surface that they fall from the bottom of such surface before repulsion occurs. It is also evident that other changes in relative arrangementof parts may be made within our invention;

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to cover by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for eifecting the separation of the conducting particles of a mixed mass from the non-conducting particles of the trostatic energy arranged for imparting ration of the same, a conveying-surface,

,same, an electrically-charged repelling-surface of diiferent potential from that 'of the mass, and means for conveying said mass into contact with said repelling-surface.

2. In an apparatus for efiecting the separation of the conducting particles of a mixed mass from the non-conducting particles of the same, a conveying-surface, a source of elec& relatively thereto to the mass an electric charge, and a repelling-surface electrically charged at a difierent potential from that of the mass and arranged to receive the charged mass.

3. In an apparatus for effecting the sepaconducting particles of a mixed mass from the non-conducting particles of the a source of electrostatic energy arranged relatively thereto for imparting to the mass an electric charge, and a repelling-surface electrically charged at an opposite potential from that of the mass and arranged to receive the charged mass.

4. In an apparatus for the purpose above described, a conveyin -surface, a source of electrostatic energy arranged relatively there- .charged at a difierent to forimparting tot-he mass an electric charge, and a moving repelling-surface electrically potential from that of the mass and arranged to receive the charged described,

5. In an apparatus for the purpose above a conveying-surface, a source of electrostatic energy arranged relatively thereto forimparting to the mass an electric charge, and a moving repelling-surface electrically charged at an opposite potential from that of the mass and arranged to receive the charged mass.

6. In an apparatus for the purpose above described, a conveying-surface, a-source of electrostatic energyarranged relatively thereto for imparting to the mass an electric charge, a repelling-surface electrically charged at a posited. on the described, a electrostatic to forimpartmg to the mass an conveying-surface, a source of energy arranged relatively thereelectric charge,

a repelling surface electrically charged at a diflferent potential from arranged to receive the charged mass, and opthat of the mass and posite said repelling-surface an inclined surface electrically. charged at tential to that of- 8. I descri n-an apparatus for the bed, a conveying-surface, a source of an opposite potherepelling-surface.v purpose above electrostatic energy arranged relatively there- 16 forimpartingtothe mass an electric charge, a'repelling-surface electrically charged at a difl'erent potential from that of the mass and arranged to receive posite said repell ,clined shutters el posite potential to that of the repelling-surface:

.19. In an apparatus for the described, a

the charged mass, and oping-surface a series of lnectrically charged at an oppurpose above conveying-surface, a source of electrostatic energyarranged relatively thereto for imparting to the mass an electric charge, an'electrically-cbarged plate of the same sign as the charge of t ranged above the he repelling-surface and arlower end of the conveyingsurface and between it and the repelling-surface, whereby the particles of the mass are attracted and lifted part of the way between the conveying-s11 rface and said plate and detered condition, trically charged that of the mass charged mass.

repelling-surface in a seatand a repelling-surface elecat a different potential from and arranged to receive the 10. In an apparatus for thepurpose above described, the

conveying-surface, a source of electrostatic energy arranged relatively thereto forimparting to a moving repe the mass an electric charge, lling surface electrically charged at an opposite potential from that of mass, an electrioa of opposite poten the mass and arranged to receive the charged lly-charged inclined surface tial to that surface and arranged opposite thereto, and

an electrically-charged plate of. the repelling-surface aras the charge ranged above the surface and betweenit and the repel of the same sign lower end of the conveyingling-surface, substantially as and for the purposes above described.

11. In an apparatus for the purpose above described, th

e conveying-surface, a source of electrostatic energyarranged relatively thereto forimparting to the mass an electric charge,

a revolving repe lling charged at an opposite surface electrically the mass and arranged to receive the'charged mass, an electrica pf opposite poten lly-charged inclined surface tial to that of the repellingot' the repellingpotentialfrom that of surface and arranged opposite thereto, an

electrically charged plate of the same'sign as the charge of the repelling-surface arranged above the lower end of the conveying-surface 5 and between it and the repelling-surface,

and

a scraper arranged to remove from the revolving repelling-surface any non-conducting particles which 12, In an apparatus may adhere thereto. I

for the purpose above 10 described, the conveying-surface, a source of electrostatic energy arranged relatively thereto for imparting to the mass an electric charge,

a revolving repelling surface electrically charged at an opposite potential from that of I 5 the massand arranged to receive the charged mass, an electrically of opposite potential surface and arran -charged inclined surface to that of thecrepellingged opposite thereto, an.

electrically-charged plate of the same sign as the charge of the repelling-surface arranged above the lower end of the conveying-surface and between it and the repelling-surface, a scraper arranged to remove from the revolving repelling-surface any particles which may be adhering,,and guiding-surfaces for receiv; ing and guiding into proper receptacles the separated streams of conductors and non-conductors. v

LUGIEN I;- BLAKE-g LAWRENOE-ZI-T .5MORSOHER. Witnesses for Lucien 1. Blake:

- EDWARD F. Honms,

ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, Witnesses. for Lawrence N. M'orscher: D. R. CAVEN,

L. C. STOCKING. 

